Apple tree named &#39;PV 1027&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apple tree, ‘PV 1027,’ originating as a mutation of the  Malus sylvestris  variety of ‘Arends’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,800). This new variety is unique from its parent because the fruit ripens 7 to 9 days before the parent and presents a larger, more reniform shape with a shinier finish.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Malus sylvestris

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct variety of apple tree originating as a mutation of the Malus sylvestris variety of ‘Arends’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,800), hereinafter referred to as the ‘PV 1027’. The new variety was found in a cultivated area where clones of Arends' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,800) had been planted exclusively. The claimed plant is a budded scion of Arends' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,800) that developed with different characteristics than Arends' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,800). This new sport is unique from its parent because it ripens 7 to 9 days earlier and is significantly larger with a more reniform shape. The skin of the new variety is also considerably shinier than the parent.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This new and distinctive strain of apple tree produces a fruit with solid red color covering 90% of the fruit surface, compared to 40 to 50% of the parent, ‘Arends’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,800). This new variety also ripens 7 to 9 days earlier than the parent and has a larger more reniform shape with a shinier finish. This new variety of apple tree was discovered in a cultivated area in 1997 in Rogers Ohio. In 1998, buds were taken from the original tree and propagated by chip budding into 50 trees. These trees were produced in Brentwood, Calif. This new cultivar has been reproduced by chip budding on Mailing 9-337 and Mailing 9 NIC 29 rootstocks and remains true to the description herein contained. The new variety has not been grown on its own root. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety as depicted in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible in color illustrations of this character. These specimens were obtained in Rogers, Ohio.

FIG. 1 illustrates the fruits and foliage of the new variety at maturity.

FIG. 2 illustrates the blossom of the new variety.

FIG. 3 illustrates a 2-year-old tree of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of the PV 1027 cultivar follows using The Royal Horticultural Society of London Colour Chart for color identification except where general color terms are sufficient.

-   Parentage: A mutation of ‘Arends’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,800).     Locality of the original discovery is Rogers. Ohio, USA. Age of the     observed tree is 5 years. The observed tree is budded on M9 NIC 29     rootstock. Location of observations is Van Buren County, Mich., USA.     This location is a USDA Zone 6 site at an elevation of 620 feet     above sea level. The average date of last frost is April 15 with an     average first freeze of October 15. Average yearly rainfall is 35     inches. -   Tree:     -   -   Age.—5 years.         -   Size.—3.2 M in height, 2 M in width.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous, yearly growth averages 1m.         -   Density.—medium dense.         -   Form.—Upright, spreading.         -   Production.—Very productive, averaging 800 bushels per acre.         -   Growth type.—Non-spur.         -   Bearing.—Annual. -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—45 cm in diameter at 100 cm above ground level.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Bark color.—Grey Group 20 B.         -   Lenticel color.—Grayed White 156D.         -   Lenticels.—Length 2 cm, width. 5 cm.         -   Lenticel density.—2 per cm². -   Branches:     -   -   Diameter 1 year.—9 mm.         -   Diameter 2 year.—19 mm.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Branch color.—Grayed-Purple 183A.         -   Form.—Profuse branching.         -   Average angle.—60°.         -   Buds.—Altemate, tightly applied to branch.         -   Lenticels.—Small, few, round to elongate.         -   Lenticel color.—White 158A. -   Dormant leaf buds:     -   -   Size.—length 4 cm, width 2 cm.         -   Shape.—bluntly lanceolate.         -   Color.—Grayed Purple 187A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Length 90 mm, width 50 mm.         -   Form.—Ovate.         -   Texture.—Crisp, tough.         -   Leaf thickness.—0.3 mm.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Apex.—Acute to slightly mucronate.         -   Margin.—Crenate. -   Pubescence: None on adaxial surface, fine pubescence on abaxial     surface. -   Leaf color: Adaxial: Yellow-Green Group 147A, Abaxial: Yellow-Green     Group 147C. -   Venation: Pinnate, 8-10 veins mainly alternate. -   Vein color:     -   -   Adaxial.—Yellow-Green 147C.         -   Abaxial.—Yellow-Green 148C.         -   Stipules.—2, small, lanceolate, apex rounded, margin finely             crenate, at base of petiole; length 8 mm, width. 5 mm.         -   Stipule color.—Yellow-Green 147C.         -   Petiole.—Slightly pubescent with single groove down entire             length, very slightly indented.         -   Petiole length.—47 mm, diameter 2 mm at base, 2 mm at             junction with leaf.         -   Petiole color.—Adaxial color Grayed Green 176C, abaxial             color Yellow-Green 147C, pubescence color Grayed Green 176D. -   Flower buds at popcorn stage:     -   -   Pedicel.—Length: 13 to 18 mm, diameter 2 mm.         -   Pedicel color.—Green 146 C.         -   Bud.—Length 9 mm, width 7 mm.         -   Bud color.—Red 56 D blush with background of White 155 D. -   Flowers:     -   -   Bloom timing.—Early season.         -   Blooming period.—April 13 to 20 in Lawrence, Van Buren             County, Michigan.         -   Pollination requirements.—Viable pollen from another early             season blooming apple variety such as Idared, Spartan or             Manchurian crabapple. No know pollen incompatibilities have             been discovered.         -   Number of flowers per cluster.—3 to 5.         -   Fragrance.—Very fragrant.         -   Corolla diameter.—24 to 32 mm.         -   Stamens.—20 to 25 in number, color White 155 D.         -   Anther color.—Yellow 14 B.         -   Pollen.—Profuse.         -   Ovary.—Pubescent, color Grayed Green 193 A.         -   Pistil.—Slightly lower than anthers in a majority of             blossoms.         -   Sepals.—5 in number, length 4 mm, width 2 mm, pubescent,             color Grayed Green 193 A.         -   Petals.—5 in number, length 11 mm, width 6 mm, slightly             overlapping.         -   Petal shape.—Ovate, base rounded to cuneate at junction with             receptacle, apex rounded, margin very slightly ruffled,         -   Petal color: Adaxial: White 155 D. Abaxial: White 155 D.         -   Petal texture.—Soft. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe. Penetrometer readings             average 19 pounds at harvest and 17 pounds one month later.             Average brix at harvest: 12 to 15%.         -   Date of picking.—August 21, in Rogers, Ohio, generally             harvested in two to three pickings.         -   Size.—Axial diameter 90 mm, transverse diameter 55 mm.         -   Average weight.—1880 to 2100 g.         -   Form.—Uniform, regular, reniform.         -   Cavity.—Obtuse, deep, depth 12mm, breadth 20 mm.         -   Basin.—Symmetrical, abrupt at base, wide, depth, 12 mm,             width 20 mm.         -   Calyx.—Open, segments persistent, erect, outer and inner             surfaces pubescent. -   Skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Thin.         -   Texture.—Very smooth, glossy with high cuticle wax, bloom             present.         -   Tendency to crack.—Some, especially at stem end in high rain             conditions.         -   Lenticels.—Inconspicuous, small, few in number, color White             155C.         -   Color.—Solid blush 90% Red 59A, with no striping.         -   Ground color.—Grayed Red 180A with Grayed Yellow 160A. -   Flesh:     -   -   Aroma.—Sweet, aromatic.         -   Color.—Grayed-White 155 A.         -   Texture.—Firm, tender, fine, crisp.         -   Eating quality.—Best. -   Core:     -   -   Bundle area.—Medium to ovate, cordate, symmetrical at base.         -   Bundle.—Inconspicuous, Yellow Green 145A, alternate above             stamens.         -   Capillary area.—Distinct, medium large size.         -   Calyx tube.—round to oblong, open.         -   Depth of tube to shoulder.—20 mm.         -   Styles.—Distinct, pubescent.         -   Stamens.—One distinct whorl, medium.         -   Axillary cavity.—Wanting.         -   Seed cells.—Walls thin, tough, length 10 mm, breadth 4 mm.         -   Longitudinal section.—Broadly ovate. -   Seeds:     -   -   Number perfect.—6 to 10.         -   Number in one cell.—1 to 2.         -   Length.—8 mm.         -   Breadth.—5 mm.         -   Form.—Obtuse, tufted.         -   Color.—Fan 4, Grayed-Orange, 175A. -   Stem:     -   -   Length.—18 mm.         -   Width.—3 mm at base to 4 mm at end.         -   Color.—Grayed Purple 183B at base blending with Green 138C             at abscission layer. -   Use: Fresh market, dessert. -   Shipping quality: Fair, not intended for long distance shipment.     Local shipping quality is fair to good. -   Keeping quality: Excellent, 30 to 60 days in common storage. -   Tree winter hardiness: Above average for an apple variety. Tree is     hardy to −20° to −35° F. -   Bud winter hardiness: −15° to −20° F., depending on the stage of     development of the bud. -   Drought tolerance: Average for an apple variety. Normal requirements     average ½″ of rain per week. Severe drought adversely affects fruit     size and quality. -   Disease resistance: Susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora)     and other bacterial diseases. Moderately susceptible to apple scab     (Venturia inaequalis), powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha), and     other fungal diseases. No exceptional resistance to any major     diseases of apple have been noted. -   Graft incompatibilities: No specific graft incompatibilities have     been noted. 

1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, Malus sylvestris, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of a vigorous, upright, spreading, medium density, regular bearing tree, producing fruits that mature 7 to 9 days before the parent and present a larger fruit with a more reniform shape and a shinier finish, 